AboutKristin Expertise I can answer questions regarding general, organic and analytical chemistry, as well as in
chemical oceanography and aquatic chemistry.
Experience I am a PhD candidate in chemical oceanography. My research focuses on organic compounds that bioaccumulate in marine mammals. This work requires extensive use and knowledge in the areas of organic extrations and chromatographic protocols, various types of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, stable and radioisotope data collection and analysis and an understanding of marine food webs. Previous research on phospholipids and chrial solvating agents required extensive use and understanding of liquid chromatography and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometry, respectively. I also have an excellent understanding of what goes into making a radiocarbon (14C) date since I spent two years preparing samples for this type of analysis. I enjoy making science understandable, accessible and exciting for children of all ages (from my youngest cousins to my 90 year-old grandparents)!
Organizations Sigma Xi
American Chemistry Society
American Society of Limnology and Oceanography
Education/Credentials BS Chemistry (2002)
PhD Chemical Oceangraphy (2010)
Awards and Honors National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow (2004-2007)
Question Why does Airborne or Alka-seltzer effervesce faster in hot water than in cold? A post on this site just stated that it does, which we can tell by observation...but WHY does is happen? What makes it bubble more violently when the water is warm/hot? If the water is cold enough, will the reaction stop completely?
Thanks!
Answer Hi John,
I'm not sure what the gas produced in Airborne is, but I assume it is the same as Alka-selzer, which is CO2 (from calcium carbonate). CO2 is less soluble in warm water than in cold water, so it has a stronger drive to leave the warm water. If you think about wind, it is air moving from an area of high pressure to low pressure, and the larger the difference in pressure the stronger (faster) the wind. The same idea applies to the CO2 escaping from the water. The stronger drive to leave the water leads to faster bubbling.
If you cooled the water down it would stop bubbling as violently. If you froze the water, of course, the bubbling would stop, but the the tablets wouldn't dissolve either. I'm not sure if it would continue to bubble right at the freezing point (when it is still liquid, just about to turn to ice). But, as long as the tablets are dissolving, there is excess CO2 in the water and it will be escaping into the atmosphere.
